Marvin Hamlisch, Legendary Composer and Conductor, Dead at 68

Marvin Hamlisch, famed composer and conductor collapsed after a brief illness and died yesterday, his family announced. He was 68. 

Hamlisch, who won three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony, a Pulitzer and three Golden Globes, was known as  the "people's composer,"  He was the youngest student to be admitted by Manhattan's Julliard School of Music 

Hamlisch composed over forty motion picture scores, including his Oscar-winning score and song for "The Way We Were," and his adaptation of Scott Joplin's music for "The Sting," for which he received a third Oscar. Other original film scores and/or musical adaptation, included "Sophie's Choice," "Ordinary People," "The Swimmer," "Three Men and a Baby," "Ice Castles," "Take the Money and Run," Bananas," "Save the Tiger," "The Informant!," and his latest effort, "Behind the Candelabra," a film about the life of Liberace. 

On Broadway, Hamlisch wrote the music for his groundbreaking show, "A Chorus Line," which received the Pulitzer Prize, as well as "They're Playing Our Song," "The Goodbye Girl" and "Sweet Smell of Success." 

At the time of his death, Hamlisch held the position of Principal Pops Conductor for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Pasadena Symphony and Pops, Seattle Symphony, and San Diego Symphony. 

Next week, he was to be announced as the Principal Pops Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra.  Hamlisch was also due to conduct the New York Philharmonic in its upcoming New Year's Eve concert. 

Hamlisch was scheduled to leave for Nashville later this week to see his hit musical, "The Nutty Professor." He was also working on a new Broadway musical called "Gotta Dance." 

He is survived by Terre, his wife of 25 years.